warbird2 wrote:
I have never been to Reno but I would think a true warbird person would not be impressed with the planes being flown like that and the engines being trashed so often. I am sure many warbirds have been destroyed in racing but I am sure that some are still around because of it. If you are looking for ramp reports it looks like wap and aafo have things covered.
I don't know what a True Warbird Person is.
Ed Maloney, Steve Hinton, Stevo Hinton, John Maloney, John Hinton, Jim Maloney, Lefty Gardner, Nelson Ezell, Lloyd Nolen, Howard Pardue, God this list could go on forever, sound like True Warbird People and all were very involved with the sport.
In the 30s Air Racing was used to develop fuels, engines and various accessories like electric boost pumps. These manufacturers sponsored racers as well. Some hard core technology was transfered to the warbirds that were developed during WWII. I want to say it was Art Chester, who was a racer, formed a company that made Spinners for Mustangs in WWII. Some of the engineers and designers involved with racing went to work for aircraft manufacturers.
Racing is a managed risk. These pilots are very good at what they do. Looking in and judging through our own experiences really doesn't do justice to how good they are in that environment.
While I realize many wouldn't want to change a current warbird into a racer, many of the real racers are built from just parts, some which were pulled out of a junk pile, and wouldn't be a flying airplane if it wasn't for Reno. Most going back nearly 15 - 20 years ago.
A couple racers have morphed back into restored warbirds so it isn't a forever proposition.
And there is the fun factor combined with an outlet for creative and can do people That get together once a year.
I would venture that a number of people that became warbird pilots and owners were 1st exposed to Warbirds at Reno or other Air Races.
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are any of the TV networks going to broadcast the racing action?
